Implant for correction of pectus excavatum

ABSTRACT

An implant for correcting pectus excavatum is disclosed, which comprises a chest correction bar ( 30 ) inserted into a body for lifting a depressed sternum and costal cartilages, and a stabilizer ( 40 ) for being inserted into a distal end of the chest correction bar ( 30 ) to prevent the chest correction bar from being rotated inside the body, wherein the chest correction bar ( 30 ) is formed at both jagged distal ends thereof with recesses ( 33 ) each of a predetermined length along the lengthwise direction of the chest correction bar ( 30 ), and wherein the stabilizer ( 40 ) comprises: two fixing plates ( 41, 41 ′) for being fixed to the body of a patient; a bridge ( 42 ) connecting the two fixing plates ( 41, 41 ′); two protruders ( 43, 43 ′) each generally opposed from the fixing plates ( 41, 41 ′) so as to be hitched by the recesses ( 33 ) at the distal ends of the chest correction bar ( 30 ) inserted from under the bridge ( 42 ), where there are formed two spaces (C) each of a predetermined size between the two protuders ( 43, 43 ′) and two lateral lengthwise surfaces of the bridge ( 42 ) so that the distal ends of the chest correction bar ( 30 ) can be inserted thereinto, thereby allowing the stabilizer ( 40 ) to be easily inserted into the chest correction bar ( 30 ), and once the insertion is made, pain and infection caused by stimulation on incised portions of a patient can be prevented.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an implant inserted into a body forcorrecting pectus excavatum.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In general, chest deformity is a case where a chest is more depressed orbulged than that of a normal person due to a depression or elevation ofa sternum and surrounding costal cartilages. A depressed chest (pectusexcavatum), also known as funnel chest, is particularly the most commonanterior chest wall deformity for Asian people. The disfiguring physicalappearance of this deformity can cause emotional and social impactespecially among children, and may give rise to deterioration in growthor function of organs positioned near the chest area, such that doctorsrecommend that the depressed chest be operated in childhood.

One conventional surgical procedure for correcting pectus excavatum isto cut out a predetermined portion of inner costal cartilages positionedat both sides of a chest to form grooves therein. Sternum and costalcartilages are pulled forward about the grooves to form a proper thorax,and portions of the grooves at the costal cartilages are artificiallyfilled in to correct the pectus excavatum.

However, there are many disadvantages in the conventional surgicalprocedure thus described in that the costal cartilages should be carvedout from inside the chest, the sternum should be lifted and portions ofthe grooves must be filled in, thereby prolonging and complicating theoperation procedure. It is also causes undue stress for both a surgeonand a patient who has to have his or her costal cartilages removed.

A surgical implant for performing the pectus excavatum procedure whichdoes not suffer from the above-mentioned disadvantages is needed. One ofthese implants is disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No.200581, which is hereby incorporated by reference, where an implant forlifting depressed sternum and costal cartilages is embedded into a bodyand fixed therein, thereby reducing the complexity of the surgicalprocedure, alleviating a patient's agony, and improving the cosmeticappearance of a person's chest.

The implant disclosed in the Korean Utility Model registration No.200581 comprises a chest correction bar 10 for lifting the sternum andsurrounding costal cartilages in the body, and a stabilizer 20 for beinginserted into a distal end of the chest correction bar 10, asillustrated in FIG. 1. The chest correction bar 10 is formed at bothdistal ends thereof with a plurality of grooves 11 for hitching threadwhen the thread is sewn for fixing the chest correction bar 10 to apatient's body. The chest correction bar 10 is also formed at thefurthest-most end thereof with a hole 12 for tying up the thread whenthe chest correction bar 10 is inserted into a body.

The stabilizer 20 is formed thereunder with an insertion piece 21 forinserting both ends of the chest correction bar 10 and is also formedwith a fixation piece 22 of a predetermined length positioned at a rightangle with the chest correction bar 10.

An operational procedure utilizing the conventional implant thusdescribed is also disclosed in the Korean Utility Model registration No.200581.

In particular, after a surgical tool fixed with a thread has penetratedthe patient's chest from side to side, the thread is held by anothertool while the surgical tool is pulled out after the implant has beenimbedded, leaving the thread remaining in the chest. The thread is tiedat the hole 12 formed at the furthest-most end of the chest correctionbar 10. The thread is then pulled to allow the chest correction bar 10to be fixed inside the body. When the chest correction bar 10 isinserted, a concave side thereof with a predetermined curvature shouldbe in contact with the chest. Next, when both ends of the chestcorrection bar 10 are held and turned 180 degrees, the chest and costalcartilages are instantly lifted in accordance to the curved shape of thechest correction bar 10, forming the contour of the chest as desired.The chest correction bar 10 thus lifted is fixed using the grooves 11 atboth ends thereof by being tied at the skin or muscle, and thestabilizer 20 is inserted into both ends of the chest correction bar 10to prevent the chest correction bar 10 from being rotated.

There is a disadvantage in the implant for correcting pectus excavatumthus described according to the prior art in that, because a planarsurface of the fixation piece 22 at the stabilizer 20 is protrusivelyformed with the insertion piece 21, the overall thickness of thestabilizer 20 becomes larger, such that when the chest correction bar 10is inserted, soft tissue around the operated portion are stimulated,causing pain to a patient, and in worst cases, soft tissue may becomeinfected.

Still worse, it is difficult to insert the stabilizer 20 to thebody-fitted chest correction bar 10 through a small incised portionbecause the fixation piece 22 should be inserted in the parallel statewith a planar surface of the chest correction bar 10 when the stabilizer20 is inserted into the chest correction bar 10.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an implant for correction of pectusexcavatum in which a stabilizer is easily inserted into a chestcorrection bar. Once the stabilizer is inserted, pain and infectioncaused by stimulation to incised portions of a patient can be prevented.

The implant for correction of pectus excavatum according to the presentinvention comprises a chest correction bar going through a body forlifting a depressed sternum and costal cartilages, and a stabilizer forbeing inserted into a distal end of the chest correction bar to preventthe chest correction bar from being rotated inside the body, wherein thechest correction bar is formed at both jagged distal ends thereof withrecesses each of a predetermined length along the lengthwise directionof the chest correction bar. The stabilizer comprises two fixing platesfor being fixed to a body of a patient, a bridge connecting the twofixing plates, and two protruders each generally opposed from the fixingplates so as to be hitched by the recesses at the distal ends of thechest correction bar inserted from under the bridge, where, between thetwo protruders and two lateral lengthwise surfaces of the bridge, thereare formed two spaces each of a predetermined size so that the distalends of the chest correction bar can be inserted thereinto.

Preferably, the protruders are pins attached to the fixing plates.

The fixing plates are formed at lateral surfaces thereof with grooves atwhich threads can be hitched when the threads are tied for securing thestabilizer to the body of a patient.

Preferably, the fixing plates are centrally formed with through holesfor reducing the weight of the stabilizer and for hitching threads aswell in case of need.

Preferably, the central planar portion of the chest correction bar iscut out lengthwise such that the thickness of the central portion of thechest correction bar is thinner than that of the distal ends thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the presentinvention, reference should be made to the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an implant for correctingpectus excavatum according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a coupled perspective view of an implant for correcting pectusexcavatum according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along A-A of FIG. 2,where only cross-sections of both sides of the stabilizer andcross-section of the chest correction bar are shown;

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b are perspective views of the chest correction bar andthe stabilizer for implant according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is plan view of the stabilizer of FIG. 4 b;

FIGS. 6-8 are constitutional views where a stabilizer is inserted intodistal ends of a chest correction bar for implant according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a stabilizer for implant according to asecond embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a chest correction bar for implantaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be describedin detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a coupled perspective view of an implant for correcting pectusexcavatum according to the first embodiment of the present invention andFIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along A-A of FIG. 2.

As depicted in the drawings, the implant according to the presentinvention comprises a chest correction bar 30 going through a body forlifting a depressed sternum and surrounding costal cartilages, and astabilizer 40 for being inserted into a distal end of the chestcorrection bar 30 to prevent the chest correction bar 30 from beingrotated inside the body.

The chest correction bar 30 and the stabilizer 40 are made of unharmfuland rust-proof biocompatible metals such as stainless steel, titaniumalloy, cobalt-chrome alloy and the like, and also may be made ofbiocompatible polymer or copolymer such as Utra High Molecular WeightPolythylene (UHMWPE), Poly L-Lactide Acid (PLLA), Poly Glycolic Acid(PGA), Poly D-Lactide Acid (PDLA).

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 a and 4 b, the chest correction bar 30 features acurved strip-type elongated bar having a predetermined curvature tosmoothly connect costal cartilages at both sides of a body and to liftthe sternum and the costal cartilages, and has a bending strength andstiffness so that the curvature of the chest correction bar 30 can beappropriately adjusted in relation to the chest width and chest contourof a patient.

The chest correction bar 30 has a planar surface. Although it ispreferred that the bar 30 is bent for use by a patient according to hisor her chest contour, it is also possible that the bar 30 ismanufactured with a predetermined contour. In the first embodiment ofthe present invention, the bar 30 is bent with an arbitrary contour.

The chest correction bar 30 is formed at both marginal end surfacesthereof with a plurality of grooves 31 so as to be hitched when threadsare tied for securing the bar 30 to the body of a patient.

The chest correction bar 30 is also formed at both furthestmost distalends thereof with through holes 32 for holding threads when the bar 30is inserted into a body. Furthermore, inwardly bent sides of both distalends of the chest correction bar 30 are lengthwise formed with recesses33 each of a predetermined length.

The stabilizer 40 comprises: two fixing plates 41 and 41′ for beingfixed to the body of a patient; a bridge 42 connecting the two fixingplates 41 and 41′; two protruders 43 and 43′ each generally opposed fromthe fixing plates so as to be hitched by the recesses 33 at the distalends of the chest correction bar 30 inserted from under the bridge 42,where, between the two protruders 43 and 43′ and two lateral lengthwisesurfaces of the bridge 42, there are formed two spaces (C) each of apredetermined size so that the distal ends of the chest correction bar30 can be inserted thereinto (refer to FIG. 5).

The fixing plates 41 and 41′ are formed at lateral surfaces thereof withlateral grooves 41 a and 41′a for holding thread when the thread is tiedfor securing the stabilizer 40. The fixing plates 41 and 41′ arecentrally formed with through holes 41 b and 41′b for reducing theweight of the stabilizer 40 and for holding the thread in case of need.

The operating method of using the above-identified implant thusdescribed according to the present invention in which the implant isinserted into the body of a patient and tied by thread is the same asthat of the prior art.

Furthermore, distal ends of the chest correction bar 30 inserted intothe body of a patient and protruding out of the body at both endsthereof are fitted by a stabilizer. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the planarsurface of the stabilizer 40 is disposed at a right angle by planarsurface of the chest correction bar 30, which in turn is inserted intothe spaces depicted as C (refer to FIG. 5) formed by the protruders 43,43′ and widthwise lateral surfaces of the bridge 42 of the stabilizer 40as shown in FIG. 7. Then the stabilizer 40 is rotated as seen in FIG. 8to allow both planar surfaces of the stabilizer 40 and the chestcorrection bar 30 to be in parallel, and the stabilizer 40 is insertedlycoupled in the lengthwise direction of the chest correction bar 30. As aresult, the stabilizer 40 can be easily inserted into the chestcorrection bar 30 that is closely contacting the body.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a stabilizer of an implant according toa second embodiment of the present invention.

The stabilizer 40 according to the teachings of the second preferredembodiment of the present invention is mounted with the protruders ofthe first embodiment in the form of pins 143 and 143′ attached to fixingplates 141 and 141′. The bridge 142, lateral grooves 141 a and 141′a andthrough holes 141 b and 141′b are the same as those of the firstembodiment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a chest correction bar of an implantaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention.

An intermediate thickness assigned to a chest correction bar 230according to the teachings of the third preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is thinner than distal ends of the chest correctionbar such that a central portion of the chest correction bar 230 inbetween the two distal ends thereof is hollowed. Construction of lateralgrooves 231, through holes 232 and recesses 233 are the same as that ofthe first embodiment of the present invention.

The chest correction bar 230 of the teachings of the third embodiment ofthe present invention therefore may be reduced in weight due to thehollowed central portion thereof to be stably coupled with a stabilizer.

The foregoing discussion has disclosed and described merely exemplaryembodiments of the present invention. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, andmodifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention.

As apparent from the foregoing, there is an advantage in the implant forcorrecting pectus excavatum thus described according to the presentinvention in that it is easy to insert a stabilizer to a chestcorrection bar due to the thinness of the stabilizer, and once thestabilizer is inserted, pain and infection caused by stimulation toincised parts of a patient can be prevented.

There is another advantage in that, when the stabilizer is inserted tothe chest correction bar, the planar surface of the stabilizer isinitially inserted at right angle into the planar surface of the chestcorrection bar but later rotated to place itself in parallel positionwith the planar surface of the chest correction bar, making it easy toinsert the stabilizer.

1. An implant for correcting pectus excavatum, comprising: a chestcorrection bar for lifting a depressed sternum and costal cartilages;and a stabilizer for being inserted into a distal end of said chestcorrection bar to prevent said chest correction bar from being rotatedinside the body, wherein said chest correction bar is formed at bothdistal ends thereof with recesses along the lengthwise direction of saidchest correction bar, and wherein said stabilizer comprises: two fixingplates for being fixed to the body of a patient; a bridge connecting thetwo fixing plates; two protruders each opposed from the fixing plates soas to be hitched by said recesses of said chest correction bar insertedfrom under the bridge, where there are formed two spaces between saidtwo protruders and said two lateral widthwise surfaces of the bridge,each space being of a predetermined size so that the distal ends of saidchest correction bar can be inserted thereinto.
 2. The implant asdefined in claim 1, wherein said protruders are composed of pinsattached to the fixing plates.
 3. The implant as defined in claim 1,wherein said fixing plates are formed at lateral surfaces thereof withgrooves for hitching thread when the thread is tied for securing saidstabilizer to the body of a patient.
 4. The implant as defined in claim1, wherein said fixing plates are centrally formed with through holesfor reducing the weight of said stabilizer and for hitching thread incase of need.
 5. The implant as defined in claim 1, wherein the centralplanar portion of said chest correction bar is cut out lengthwise suchthat thickness of the central portion of said chest correction bar isthinner than that of the distal ends thereof.